Turkish Gunman Arrested After Firing Shots, Trying To Enter US Embassy In Ankara

Hours after the Russian ambassador was shot dead in Ankara, a man was arrested early on Tuesday morning after firing a gun and trying trying to enter the US Embassy in Ankara. According to the Daily Sabah newspaper, the Embassy was placed on lockdown after the man, who has not yet been named, approached the embassy with a gun. He also fired at least one shot in the air, newspaper to the Turkish media.

The gunman who shot in the air outside the US Embassy in Ankara tonight has been pictured. Credit: Anadolu Agency pic.twitter.com/DJNqPeMrqb

The attack came hours after the US state department issued a security message warning all US citizens to avoid the area near Embassy compound until further notice.

It was not immediately clear if anyone was hurt by the suspect.

A video, and photographs, show him being led away, apparently uninjured. He appears to be in his 40s or 50s. In the video footage of his arrest, he can be heard shouting ‘Don’t play with us’ as he pushes against the group of police officers guiding him to a van.

FOOTAGE: Police arrest the gunman outside the US Embassy in Ankara. He swears and says “don’t play with us” pic.twitter.com/ZmFzYR2kq0

The event followed the shocking murder earlier today of Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, who was shot dead in an Ankara art gallery. Karlov was killed by Melvut Mert Altintas, 22, an off-duty member of the Ankara special forces police department. Footage of the scene shows the man saying in Arabic: ‘We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad for jihad.’ According to local media, his words are similar to the unofficial anthem of Al Nusra, the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda.

In Turkish, Altintas adds: ‘Don’t forget about Aleppo. Don’t forget about Syria. As long as our lands are not safe, you will not taste safety … Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression, they will all die one by one.’ Altintas was shot dead after a standoff with police.